Geyser Gaatha

Unhone kaha "cool"
Maine kaha cool nahi cold tha
Vo pani jiss se aaj nahaana pada
Geyser kharaab tha aur college jaana tha
isiliye thande paani se kaam chalaana pada

Toh bole itni sardi mei thanda paani?
Ek din bina nahaae chalaa leti
Maine kaha sard neend badi ziddi hoti hai
Cutting chai ko bhi sulaa deti
Subah subah hosh bhulaa deti

Bole, Kuch garm piya tha uske baad?
Pi lena tha sardi lag jaegi
Maine kaha kuch der dhoop mei chali thi
Hatheli se hatheli garmaai thi
andar bujhti lau maine thande paani se jalaai thi.

Phir pucha, acha baaki din kaisa tha?
Vo tumhari dost...milne aayi thi?
Maine kaha ab din dhall gaya hai sone do
aur nahi...aaj phir sham akele sulgaai thi.
Phone toh rakh diya, par aaj bhi mujhe neend kahaan aayi thi.

Mujhe message kiya unhone,
tum jhooth bolna chor do na, tumhe aata nahi
Maine kaha, so jao kal tumhe jaana haina kahin?
tumse mujhe tanng kiya bina
bhala kyu rahaa jaata nahi?


Jawaab aaya, akele matt raha karo
log sath ho toh acha lagta hai
Galaa kas gaya, toh maine kaha
Pataa hai? aj mess mei kadhi bani thi
tum hote toh sath mei khaate, sahi bani thi

Bole baat matt badlo, batao kya hua?
mann kiya likh dun baat toh aap badal rahe hain
seh na paae jo bayaan hua?
par offline chali gayi, kaha na gaya
Agli subah phir Geyser se rahaa na gaya

Mujhe phir college jaana tha,
phir thande paani se nahaana pada

Smile

Written on the word 'Smile' for Tarishi Verma on Seven Poem Saturday

The blinding glare of lights
the alienness of make up
the toe curling heels
and the flowing frail dress

show biz, ramps and lime light
the poised shoulders
those confident strides
flashes, bashes, raves and riots

only room service saw them
the blots of kohl on your pillow my love
and some, saw them too
the blades, the drops of blood my love

in feast who saw your hungry eyes?
like the beast or the beauty disguised
forever in the lumps of your throat
forever under the mascara and coat

forever you buried your dreams alive
"but im living' the dream"
living in a dream
living
living?

leaving...but for now
toss those hair
cross your legs on the chair
look me in the eye...and smile

click.

Catch 22

Written on the word 'Paradox' for Fatima Mohsin on Seven Poem saturday

For all the lies that I told baby
and all the nights new and old baby
for all the times I thought of reasons
for my innumerable treasons
for all the times you found my phone
and raided it when you were alone
for the man in your room that night
and for whenever you asked whats right?
"if not this then what's right?"
for your sleepless precious nights
spent on my empty pillow, ruthless fights
there's but one reason ringing true
you're mine... you're my catch twenty two

Paradise

Written on the word 'Paradise'for the Lovely Nikita Bhaskar on Seven Poem Saturday, I had a lot of fun writing this one thank you bro

they told me about that place,
every book, a different story
and only one thread to tie
to be there you must be good
you must not sin you must not lie

for Paradise has been lost
said a certain pious gentleman
it went down in an apple bite
of one woman's singular 'sin'
Oh sir! I'd call you a fool

If I were to speak my mind
and sir, you'd call me blasphemous
and slash me from behind
you'd call me a cursed witch
and banish me won't you?

like all the women of history
who dare talk back to you
and your twisted authority
when you cut their hair and
locked them up

its then you lost Paradise
but Paradise will once again come
with the 'mighty efforts' of some
'the chosen ones' they say
blessed with freewill too

I've always found this funny
pairing god's word and man's freewill
such a clever ploy for the sinners
the writers of the 'holy' books
for sinners might go to heaven if

its god's divine discretion
but you must not sin if you do
its your deviant divine freewill
and then for sure you're doomed
and forever must you pray

you should bow your head and say
dear lord, for all the spirits murdered
and blood shed in your name
"father, please forgive me for
I know not what I do."

conjuring miracles

Written on the word 'conjuring' for Vikas Chaturvedi on Seven Poem Saturday,
Thankyou, you gave me my first poem on my mother

In days of tiring school games
Lonely lunches and called out names
Only you would know the magic ma
Violet bangles clinking in the steel pots
Eager hands but touch me nots
You gave me love in a platter ma
Only you would cast a spell on me
Undoing all my hurts and fears
Munching away the dried out tears
All along conjuring miracles...ma

basically

Written on the word 'basically' for my darling sonam Revankar on Seven Poem Saturday

Its about who you are
no its about what you want to be
its about what you see
no its about what you want to see
basically its about choice
about how you choose your voice
basically its about the angle
at which you let yourself dangle
to listen and to agree
to this myth called society
you see what you see is what you be
its about how you think you're free
its about choice basically
all about choice basically

I

Written on the hauntingly difficult word 'I' for Mr. Kamal Bhatnagar sirji for Seven Poem Saturday.
This poem is the reason it became a seven poem month :D

Saturday-I:
I have been given a trick
to write about I
about how I see I
From my own eye

I said "aye!
That can't be hard..."

Saturday-II:
And...?


well...lets start

Saturday-III:

tripy toed wanderer
clumsy crass slanderer
a wide eyed joker kid
boggled in the world she skid
the mad mad world

punju assed fatty
like the sunday aallu patty
sly but never catty
pampered but not bratty
or so I've heard

Saturday-IV:
Scared of the dark
you'll see me walking in the park
with a song on my lips
and dirty nailed finger tips
the not so 'Dilli Walli'

I'm rude and I'm loud
and all of that is a shroud
to hide the buzzing crowd
that resides in my head
the baker and the bread

and this...this is not me
atleast not the one you see
the words unsaid, littered
inked on paper unfiltered
is me, thats how I choose to be

Kamm

written for Farhan Khan on Seven Poem Saturday-I

ye kamm bada hie hai vichitr
ye hota kabhi na kisi ka mitr
sab bhule baithe iss lafz ko aaj
hue jabse "aur zada" ke mohtaaj

par kamm...haan kamm chalo aaj iski baat karein
vo kamm kamm ke din phir yaad karein
jab zaada ka koi vaada na tha
jo tha vo kabhi aadha na tha

jab panch rupay mei khushiyan milti thi
aur muft ki baarish pe muskaan khilti thi
jab 'i' ka matlab ice cream hota tha
jab armaan bas armaan na bada na chota tha

ab jinke naam bade unke darshan kamm hote hain
aur jinki jeb choti unke darjan kamm hote hain
par ye bade naam vaale kuch zada hie rote hain
dekho choti jeb vaale kaise sukoon se sote hain

koi ek aam ki ek faank mei char dilon ka pyar hai paata
koi thaal bhari aur bade se ghar mei pura aam akele khata
ab aap bataein mai na bolun kya kamm hai aur kya hai zada
ye kamm zada ka maap tol meri weighing machine ko bhi na bhaata

...hum zara...motey haina...kya karein...

Shayad

Shayad...mera hissa kahin choot gaya hai vahin bannd kamre mei aadhi raushni mei
Shayad...mera kissa kahin chhoot gaya hai
Vahin bannd masjid ki aadhi kahi fariyaad mei

Tum sach mei mujhe dekha karte thhe harr subah?
Ya namaaz mei dua parast hue hathon mei dhoop nahi mera vehem thha

Shayad...chhal tha mann ka rooth gaya hai
Parde aur khidki ke beech fasi dhoop sa
Shayad...kal tha aaj hie toot gaya hai
Peeth peeche ki gai mehendi ki khaali koop sa

soch soch ke tumhe itna sach kar chuke hain
Ki ab sach nahi ho sach yakeen nahin aata
Noch noch khudko sakht kar chuke hain
Tere zikr se phir bhi hai rakht kahin aata

Shayad... tum hamesha se hie kitaabi thhe
Mangharant, mann behelaane vali kahaani se
Shayad... hum hamesha se hie kitaabi thhe
Churiyon, chai elaichi mei jeene vaale

Chalo aaj tumhe iss udhaar se faarig karte hain
Mere khwabon mei aane ke bhaar se faarig karte hain

Tum shaayad umeed mei toh thhe par naseeb mei nahi
Aaj lakeeron mei fasne ke jaal se faarig karte hain

Shor Hai

Ye jo kaano ke andar se sunaai padta hai
Shor hai
Ye jo raaton mei zehen se umadta hai
Shor hai
hukke ki bud bud,padosi ki gud gud
Shor hai
Galiyon se chhan ke khidkiyo mei aata
Shor hai
Bijli se tez pahiyon ki avaaz jo hai
Shor hai
Ye jo mehfilon ko javaan karta hai
Fakat shor hai
Pankhe ke pahiyo ki avaaz shor hai
Darvaaze ke bannd gale se nikalta
Shor hai
Aate aur jaate har kadam ki aahat shor hai
Meri kalaai pe takraati churiyaan
shor hai
Train ki tez tarraari shor hai
Logon ki baatein shor hai
Kambakhat raatein shor hai
Pachiyo ke pankh shor hain
Mandiron ke shankh shor hain
Azaan, namaaz ba khuda shor hai
Ye duniya ke dastur shor hai
Ye sajde befizul shor hai
Inn sab ke beech jo sannate si sunaai deti hai
Bas ek teri avaaz hai
Baaki sab... Sab shor hai

walk with me

"Its like we know another language" he thought...
"Its like we've built
a street between our hearts
and we sit on the footpaths
from moon to moon
and noon to noon
leaning,breathing,sighing,laughing
as the traffic passes by
disinterested, perfectly so"...
"stay" he said as she glanced at the time
"I will," she said "as long as you never promise...
to never let me go."

Ghalib ki Galiyaan

Ye ghalib ki galiyan hain janaab
Yahaan chaubaron pe kapde jhaado
Toh paani ki boondon ko chooriyon ki khanak se ishq ho jaata hai
Jo khidki ke peeche se chaunk ki tez tarrari sunaai padh jaae
Toh aankho ko mirchi ki tees ka chaska chadh jaata hai
Har subah tauliye se chalakte bheege baal Baarishon ke mausam ka sa ehsaas chor jaate hain
Yahaan araam parast kone, shamon ko dhua karte ghazalein gaate hain
Dhool ko gaur se dekho... Dhoop mei khwabon si chamakti dikhai padegi
Shhh gaur se suno rickshe ke pahiye pe bandhe kisi ashiq ke dil ki aah sunaai padegi Yahan bazaron mei kaudiyan nahi chalti
Tute hue dil, galon ke til, thande armaano aur ghungraale baalon mei khareed hoti hai
Ye berehm beparvaah kilkaarion mei hasti hai Ye chameli ke gajron ki khushbu mei sajti hai Ye tute masruf dilon ki doobi kashti hai
Ye pehmaano se tapaki boondon si dassti hai Ye ghalib ki galiyan hain janab ye ishq ki basti hai

"Acha Ab Mai Chalta Hun"

ab toh…bas saansein chal rahi hai
zindagi toh usi din tham gayi thi
jab tumne kaha tha "acha, ab mai chalta hun"
ghutnon pe hath tikaa ke
ek saans bharke uthe thhe
chaukhat tak chalke gae thhe
phir feetey baandhne ko rukey thhe

hamesha feetey khule chor dete ho na
kisi din gir gae toh?
toh tum ho na…hath badha ke utha dena
ya khud zameen pe utar aana
mere liye, itna toh karogi na tum?

mai toh kabhi aasmaan ki thi hie nahi
Jab tak tum mere aasmaan na baney
mai toh kabhi iss jahaan ki thi hie nahi
jab tak tum mere jahaan na baney

kitni baar bataya tha maathe ko noch ke
jaate waqt hamesha "laut ke aata hun" kaha karte hain
hoge tum befiqr khuda se hum insaan toh befikari se darte hain
ab toh suraj bhi maano ek hie aas mei dhalta hai
suiyaan chubhaata hua sa waqt chalta hai
ki zindagi toh usi din tham gayi thi
jab tumne kaha tha "acha, ab mai chalta hun"

Ma

Hai maayus bada dil
Aaj rone ko ji chaahta hai
Unhi baazuon mei phir sone ko ji chahta hai
Vo jinhe kabhi garmjoshi mei jhatka tha
Bade sard mijaz hoke jinki
Har dua ko bistar pe patka tha
Aaj silvaton se usi bistar ki
Dhul sanjone ko ji chaahta hai
Hai maayus bada dil
Aaj rone ko ji chaahta hai

Thi loriyon ki goonj harr raat mei
Aur harr subah namazon si hoti thi
Phoonk phoonk meri balaaon ko
Apne maathe pe vo sanjhohti thi
Beech raat meri razaai uchkaane ko
Vo aksar neend se jaag jaya karti thi
Mere harr nakhre ko
bade naazon se uthaya karti thi
Mai roz kehti "offo ma deri ho rahi hai hatt bhi ja"
Vo roz kehti "beta naashta toh karti ja"

Mai haar gayi ma ab toh gussa chor de
Itni bhi narazgi yun chal di muh mor ke

Kal imtehaan hai mera dahi nahi chataao gi?
Dekh mai tayyar ho gai ma kaala teeka nahi lagaogi?

Vo jo ghee aur gurh chur ke tu banaya karti thi
Teri ungliyon ki khushbu mei sani
phir vahi churi khaane ko ji chaahta hai
Hai maayus bada dil
Aaj rone ko ji chaahta hai

Missing pieces

In every group of children, there is a weird kid always, the one who had weird choices, whose jokes nobody got, who didn't like the same toys. I was that kid, I found the whole 'ghar-ghar' 'chor police' and the likes really pointless. I never understood why I should listen to Simon's weird third person commands... and hence I was the 'weird kid'.

I always found immense intrigue and poetry in jigsaws, the bigger the better. I simply loved the whole journey. When you start, its always a tossed case, because its such a long long way to the finish that you can't allow yourself to believe you'll be able to finish it at all. Then you start nevertheless, from a corner piece mostly. My first aim used to be to find the four corners always, you know, so you have a frame, then start by finishing the lines between each corner and finally filling the gaps in between.

Jigsaws, they used to be 'my thing' not barbies or doll houses... jigsaws, the one thing I'd rush to right after school, still in my uniform, trying to finish as many pieces as possible before my brother came home with his monster of an appetite.

And Sundays, my whole week used to be filled with daydreams of the beautiful Sunday morning, when Mommy would be home so I'll have all day to myself. I can't even count how many Sundays and how many puzzles I've solved as a child. When eventually, it became boring because I got the hang of it, I could sift the right pieces out with one swooshing glance at the bundle and solve the whole thing in no time at all. I remember the childish irritation then. As if the game had to be blamed for the tricks my mind had learnt with practice. And so I stopped playing it, I 'outgrew' it.

Now life feels like one long jigsaw Sunday. Though there is no picture on a cardboard to refer, there are no visible corner pieces, this is one shapeless jigsaw and all my tricks are either forgotten or failing. Though I've made a few lucky guesses. I don't even know how many pieces I have to find and where to put them when I do. But there is one thing that might help...

You know why they gave you jigsaw puzzles as a kid? so that when you grow up and you can't see the bigger picture taking shape,you'd remember the feeling of finding a missing piece, so that when you have to go by instinct, you'll know... you just...know.

Just like I know... now. :)

Pain

A sense of loss...
that doesn't hurt...
it's beyond the reach of emotional pain
and since there is no pain there is no hope
no hope of healing
A sense of loss...
that's numb...
as if under a permatent dose of anesthesia
you know its going nowhere...
you'll just learn how to live with it...
like a stitch under your breast...  
you'll get used to looking at it in the mirror every morning
unconsciously massaging it while watching tv hoping that it goes away...
but you know it won't  
then one day you might find a cure...
a person or people who can take it away... heal it...
don't be alarmed when you don't want them to...
you've gotten used to this presence
this lifeless faint recollection of pain...
you won't want it to go away  
you see... pain is more faithful than happiness...
it doesn't go away that easily which is why we like it better than happiness and experience it more than happiness  
its like a very strict sports coach
makes us cry, troubles and tests us
tired and exhausted we end up falling asleep cursing it most nights  
but every morning...
we wake up...stronger and mightier
knowing we've fought it this far and we'll fight it again...and again...  
pain is a friend...
but it has a job to do...
and its bloody good at it.

tim tim

maddham shaam mei
dagmagaate paeron taley
ghumshuda shamon se bahot dur
thahaakon ke nashe mei chur chur
dhuen ke beech kahin bechain
mil gaya aaj kuch vo
shayad arso se dhundh rahi thi jo
vo bachpan ki geeli mitti mei dabi
bulbulon pe yun hie hasti
chote se laal gubbare mei simti si
mummy ki ungli pakde idhar udhar rukti
har rangeen chamakti cheez ko takti
yun hie beparvaah bikharti barasti
vo bachpan vaali hassi
vo hi bachpan vaali hassi...

Raat gayi...

raat soe nahi khwabon ke darr se
jaagte rahe kalam ka daaman pakad ke
darte rahe kahin neend na chhal de
aankhon ko dhokhe se moond ke chal de    
jalte rahe laalten ke sath sath
kaagaz pe bechain chatle rahe sard hath
aankhein banaai toh aansu sath bann aae
maano alfaaz saare siyaahi mei chann aae 
raat gaadhi hoti rahi ghadi ki aavaz se
hum dhuaan hote rahe kaayaron ke andaaz se
subah ki pehli aahat se kuch sukoon aaya
par bojhal aankhon ko faqat junoon aaya
socha phir darte darte raat ko zaaya kyu kiya
kambakht khwabon ne khuli aakhon ka rasta dhund liya.

Kaafir

kache raste pe chalta kaafir mile jo kabhi
toh haske usse gale lagaa bhi lena
chalta chala hai khud hie ki dhun mei
na duniya se ranj na khuda ki khaer
kabhi jo tumse takraa jae toh thoda gunn gunaa hie lena
sar phira hai vo anjaan bhi khud se
gar nazrein milein kabhi toh usse ayina dikha bhi dena
dhoop chani dhul ki chamak mei ghum vo
aankhon se tasveerein banaata hai
har shaqs mei chhipe raushni ke tukdon ko
phoonk phoonk chamkaata hai
koi kahe uss se kab khud pe guroor farmaaega
toh bas hass ke taal jaata hai
vo dekho phir dikha mujhe
vo kaafir kache raston pe chala aata hai

ek samay ki baat hai

ye baat uss samay ki hai
jab tum aur mai hum hua karte thhe
thahaakon ke shor mei ghumshudaa
mann mei malaal kam hua karte thhe
meri hathon ki lakeeron se vaaquif thhe tum
maathe ki shikann se bhi anjaan na thhe
sharaarat zarur karte thhe hum
par yakeen tha beimaan na thhe
yaad hai? shaam ko uss roz
mitti ke nanhe nanhe ghade banae thhe
sindoori mitti ke geele haathon se
mere maathe pe tumne chaand sajae thhe
mitti kya sukhi mera chaand tukdon mei
bikhar ke gir aaya dhul se
qatra qatra mil gaya zameen mei
khaer choro itni si baat pe karne se gaur kya hoga?
yun mitti ke chaand banaaoge aasman mei toh aur kya hoga?

Haina?

sukoon se junoon sa bante ja rahe ho
meri raghon ka khoon sa bante ja rahe ho
pankha toofaan se tez sunaai padta hai
baazu pe naakhun ka aadha chaand dikhai padta hai

kabhi kabhi toh mann hota hai yun
ki tut hie jaaun haalaat ke aagey ab
mere katre seehne aane pe majbur tum
aaoge meetha marhamm liye jab

tab dono milke khuda ko khoob kosenge
phir taaron ke neeche baithe ghaas pe
haathon ki tirchi lakeerein nochenge
aur phir hass deti hu iss hie aas pe

ki khuda bhi thoda toh imaan rakhta hoga
lete lete hamaara imtehaan ab toh
vo bhi aakhein malta thakta hoga
koi toh datesheet nikaali hogi jo

bass khatm hone ko aati hogi na
har roz ki taraah kal bhi phir se
vahi aakhri vaala exam doge na
aur jab lagaaogi sirhaana sirr se

...ussey mera kaandha samjhoge na?

Meri tarha

dono ki yahi uljhan hai
ki unko bhi toh gila hai
meri tarha
rashk-o-ranj ka jo sama hai
unko bhi toh mila hai
meri tarha
dono ki baatein kahin
zehen mei hie dafn reh gayi
jaane kis giley ke maare
larzaan hai lafz kahin
hothon ke kono mei
kabhi Faiz ki yaad mei
bitayi shabon ki aanch se
phir dhuaan uthta hai yun
maano bujhte koele ko
phir havaa ne sehlaya ho
phir barf ki chaadar dikhai padti hai
vo jo pighalte nahi banti
nakhun se kharonche annmane
nishaan dikhai padte hain bass
angeethi ki bujhti kokh se ujle hue
kyu na isi nazm ke bahaane chalo
bhul jaae dhundle se giley saare
aaj phir puraani dilli ke paas kharchi
chai ki piyaali yaad karte hain
jiski mithas aaj bhi zuban pe
tumhari bhi utar aati hai
meri tarha.

Zubaan

beparvah lafzon ki zuban
bulbulon si nabzon ki zuban
suni hongi ashqon ki zuban
sukhe khu ke zakhmon ki zuban

khushkh hothon se sili
khushk hothon se sili
bepanaah ishq ki zuban...
beparvah lafzon ki zuban

bikhri sirhaane pe mere
teri ranjisho ki zuban
bekhayali mei badbadaae
surkh kaaton ki zuban

beparvah lafzon ki zuban
yun teri ungliyon mei
uljhi meri zulfein
teri kalaai pe bandhi

meri zulfon ki zuban
kharonchon kharaashon
khaafa gilon ki zuban...
beparvah lafzon ki zuban

husn e mirza ko takti
thaki aakhon ki zuban
harr hasi mei sisakti
jhuthe vaadon ki zuban

mere aanchal se chhili
hasraton ki zuban
mere kaandhe pe chhani
laal raaton ki zuban

dhoop pe jalte behte
siyaah ashqon ki zuban
suni hongi tumne
aayaton ki bhi zuban

namazon mei maangi
khidkiyon pe taangi
mazjidon ki seedhiyo pe padi
beeti barsaat ki zuban

beparvah lafzon ki zuban
bepanah ishq ki zuban